Almonde

Englyn Design : Published 1932 

Almonde's varnished hull didn't survive a channel crossing in 2016.
It's now a fine off-white.

Almonde's New Custodian Shouts, “Ahoy !”
Stephen Hetherington bought Almonde from Andre Vink in 2016. He writes, “I sailed her from Holland last year and she's now moored in Dartmouth alongside Peter Gregson's (the Woodenships broker) Vertue, Caulpona. In that time I have made a few changes: that varnish previous owners were so proud of didn't survive the Channel crossing (sun and heavy seas had it crazed and flaked in five days - the hull is now a fine off-white), a host of engine repairs, a new prop shaft coupling (the old one gave up before we passed Cowes), and the mainsail re-cut to take out the 'lens' in the foot. She's a fine boat, strongly built of teak and sound; she's already carried me through some quite tough weather”.
Many thanks to Dr Hetherington for his email.

This Half Model of Almonde by Peter Ward was sold for €465 in 2014

The Harrison Butler With Royal Connections
Almonde is the boat in which Queen Wilhelmina (1880-1962) and Queen Beatrix (Born 1938) are rumoured to have learnt to sail. (The Almonde family name is Ancestorial in the Dutch Royal family). There is another rumour that Almonde spent the Second World War submerged 'somewhere', for safety. There is clearly much that the HBA does not know about this yacht....

Almonde Statistics
Built in 1934 by Kok te Muiden, in Muiden, Holland
LOA : 8.80 metres
LWL : 7.20 metres
Beam : 2.75 metres
Draught : 1.25 metres
Displacement : 5 tons

Almonde Custodians
Dr Stephen Hetherington (2016-2024...) Dartmouth, England
André Vink (2002-2015) Netherlands
Hans van Veen (?-1994-2002) Netherlands
Willi and Rita Mus (?-1985-?) Netherlands

André Vink, Almonde's Custodian 2002-2015
He's a former director of HISWA
(An Industry trade group for the Netherlands water sports business)

Almonde Links
• Almonde, now SOLD, on brokerage website, in 2016
• The Mystery of Almonde's Keel, Crusing Yachts, Autumn 2017 
• Almonde participating in Falmouth Classics 2022
• Almonde FOR SALE with Wooden Ships, October 2024 

Page last updated : October 2024

Top of page